5/22/2015
Thomas Kennedy Wins Tabor Memorial
Thomas Kennedy from Winnipeg, Manitoba made it two straight Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) wins in as many races when he led all the way for the victory during the running of the 4th Annual Davey Tabor Memorial at the St. Croix Valley Raceway on Friday night May 22. Thomas' dad Lou Kennedy, Jr. made it a family affair at SCVR with a second place finish. Thomas Kennedy joins Brooke Tatnell, Scotty Thiel and Jerry Richert, Jr. as winners of this popular UMSS event which honors the memory of sprint car owner, mechanic and fan Davey Tabor. The win paid Kennedy $1,234 thanks to additional purse money from the Tabor family and GRP Motorsports.
After heat race wins by Leigh Thomas and Rick Kobs followed by Challenge race victories by Lou Kennedy and Jerry Richert, Jr., Thomas Kennedy drew the pole position with 2009 UMSS Champion Leigh Thomas on the outside of row one. Kennedy took command during the early laps and never relinquished the top spot in a race that was only slowed once under caution with nine laps scored for a spin by rookie driver Jake Lempelius. Finishing behind the pair of Kennedys was three-time UMSS Champion Jerry Richert, Jr. in third. 2010 UMSS Champion Cody Hahn and Rick Kobs rounded out the top five with the 2013 UMSS Champion Chris Graf in sixth. 2014 UMSS Rookie of the Year Ryan Bowers ran seventh ahead of Thomas. Another former series Rookie of the Year Jared Goerges and 2011 Traditional series champion Kevin Bradwell completed the top ten. Top drivers in series history were plentiful at SCVR for the Tabor Memorial.
Richert claimed the GRP Motorsports Past Champion Bonus for his third place finish in the main event. With contributions by the Tabor family and GRP, additional money was added to all feature race finishing positions in addition to $50 to win each Challenge race thanks to Margaret Tabor. Memorial Day Weekend action continued the following night at the Rice Lake Speedway. Please check out the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or like us on Facebook where you can find links to the race reports, points and press releases in addition to several photos.
UMSS Race Results - St. Croix Valley Raceway, May 22, 2015 (Race #2):
GRP Motorsports & Tabor Family 4th Annual Davey Tabor Memorial Feature (25 Laps): 1. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[1]; 2. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[4]; 3. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[5]; 4. 23-Cody Hahn[6]; 5. 34-Rick Kobs[3]; 6. 20G-Chris Graf[10]; 7. 199-Ryan Bowers[7]; 8. 29-Leigh Thomas[2]; 9. 9-Jared Goerges[8]; 10. 95-Kevin Bradwell[13]; 11. 1-Jeff Pellersels[9]; 12. 91A-Reed Allex[12]; 13. 7M-Bob McVitty[11]; 14. 52-Jake Lempelius[15]; 15. (DNF) 5-Anna Kouba[14]; DNS 03-Jamey Ogston; DNS 15-Chad Patterson
Lap Leader: Thomas Kennedy 1-25. Cautions: (1) for 52 spin in turn 2 with 9 laps scored.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service & Tabor Family Challenge Race 1 (8 Laps): 1. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[3]; 2. 9-Jared Goerges[1]; 3. 23-Cody Hahn[5]; 4. 29-Leigh Thomas[6]; 5. 199-Ryan Bowers[4]; 6. 7M-Bob McVitty[2]; DNS 95-Kevin Bradwell; DNS 15-Chad Patterson
Cautions: (1) for 7M spin turn 2 with 2 laps scored.
Hoosier Racing Tire & Tabor Family Challenge Race 2 (8 Laps): 1. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[2]; 2. 34-Rick Kobs[4]; 3. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[3]; 4. 1-Jeff Pellersels[5]; 5. 52-Jake Lempelius[7]; 6. (DNF) 5-Anna Kouba[6]; 7. (DNF) 03-Jamey Ogston[1]; DNS 20G-Chris Graf; DNS 91A-Reed Allex
03 Ogston flipped turn 4, lap 6. Done for the night.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 29-Leigh Thomas[1]; 2. 20K-Thomas Kennedy[7]; 3. 199-Ryan Bowers[6]; 4. 63-Jerry Richert Jr[5]; 5. 7M-Bob McVitty[3]; 6. 52-Jake Lempelius[8]; 7. (DNF) 15-Chad Patterson[2]; 8. (DNF) 91A-Reed Allex[4]
91A tipped on side turn 1, opening lap. Able to make repairs and return for feature. 15 Patterson rode up turn 1 wall and flipped out of the track turn 2, lap 5. Done for the night.
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 34-Rick Kobs[2]; 2. 23-Cody Hahn[1]; 3. 20G-Chris Graf[3]; 4. 21K-Lou Kennedy Jr.[4]; 5. 03-Jamey Ogston[8]; 6. 9-Jared Goerges[6]; 7. 1-Jeff Pellersels[5]; 8. 95-Kevin Bradwell[7]; DNS 5-Anna Kouba
No cautions.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
